Sources Guides list

Sources Guide: Medical Ethics: Various issues

Animal experimentation

International relations

Reproductive issues

Voluntary euthanasia

Fluoridation debates

Miscellaneous

NB There are a number of medieval and early modern manuscripts which deal with ethics in the more general sense, rather than the specifically medical/biomedical.
For questions of professional ethics see Sources Guide Medical Ethics: Professional relations.

Further information about the materials mentioned below can be found on the Archives and Manuscripts Online Catalogue

In some cases the full detailed catalogues of archive collections are not yet in this online database: hard copy versions are available in the Rare Materials Room of the Library and on request to archs+mss@wellcome.ac.uk

Animal experimentation

ANIMAL DEFENCE AND ANTI-VIVISECTION SOCIETY: Executive Council minutes 1911-6 GC/52

Dr William Williams KEEN (1837-1932): Letters, notes and articles relating to Keen's opposition to the anti-vivisection movement, c.1885-1927 GC/53

LIND-AF-HAGEBY Libel Case: Incomplete transcripts of proceedings of anti-vivisection cause célèbre, 1913 GC/89

LISTER INSTITUTE (formerly the British Institute/Jenner Institute of Preventive Medicine): Papers, 1889-99, concerning protests against establishing the Institute in Chelsea on the grounds that it would undertake animal experimentation SA/LIS

Sir Edward (1884-1955) and Lady (1882-1978) MELLANBY: Collection includes their certificates from, and correspondence with, the Home Office about their use of animals for research, 1910s-60s PP/MEL

Sir William Drummond PATON: an advocate of the responsible use of animals in research, his papers include material generated by his involvement with the Research Defence Society (q.v.), his contributions to Parliamentary Committees on the use of animals in research, and relating to his book Man and Mouse: Animals in Medical Research (1984), 1948-93 PP/WDP

PHYSIOLOGICAL SOCIETY: Includes a substantial amount of material concerning the Society's involvement in drawing up legislation to regulate the use of animals in research, 1940s-90s. Thirty-year closure period SA/PHY

RESEARCH DEFENCE SOCIETY: Founded in 1882 as the Association for the Advancement of Medicine by Research, to promote the legitimate and properly regulated use of animal experimentation, and to advise on the regulation process. Archives, 1880s-1980s, including anti-vivisection literature. Some sections closed SA/RDS

STRANGEWAYS RESEARCH LABORATORY: Some correspondence with FRAME (Fund for the Replacement of Animals in Medical Experiments), c. 1970; also file on Home Office Licenses for staff members, 1940s-50s, feeding of research animals under rationing, 1940s-50s SA/SRL

Marthe VOGT: Correspondence with the Home Office re licensing for animal experimentation, 1935-87, Vogt’s own arguments for the utility of animal experimentation, plus her critical views on some experiments by others deemed to be of dubious scientific value (Section C) PP/MLV

International relations

Professor Sir Alexander HADDOW (1907-1976): Collection includes correspondence relating to world peace, scientific responsibility, nuclear weapons, etc PP/HAD

Sir Peter Brian MEDAWAR: One file on International Foundation of Scientists for Peace and Liberty of Conscience, 1980s PP/PBM

Roger MONEY-KYRLE: materials relating to his use of psychoanalysis to understand the roots of war and more generally in relation to politics and social organisation, 1920s-70s PP/RMK

ROYAL ARMY MEDICAL CORPS MUNIMENT COLLECTION: Collection contains material on Red Cross/Crescent (including on Geneva Convention and setting up of the Red Cross in papers of Sir Thomas Longmore, 1139) and Volunteer Medical Services; see Subject Index under these headings RAMC

Hugo RAST: served with Mixed Medical Commissions for Prisoners of War and civilian internees, during World War II PP/RAS

Marthe VOGT: material relating to her involvement with campaigns for nuclear disarmament and peace movement generally, 1950s-80s PP/MLV

Robert George RANYARD WEST (1900-1986): Files relating to his studies on the psychology of international relations, 1930s-70s, and on his conscientious objection to National Service during World War II PP/RRW

Reproductive issues

Material on the ethical questions relating to contraception and abortion will be found in most of the collections detailed in Sources Leaflet Birth Control

EUGENICS SOCIETY (f. 1907): Apart from general questions relating to eugenics, positive and negative, archives include a substantial amount of material on sterilisation of the 'unfit' (there is also material on this in the BMA 'Groups' files, q.v.), and on artificial insemination and ectogenetic pregnancy SA/EUG
PLEASE NOTE: this collection is being digitised and parts of it will be unavailable during the process. Check the schedule for further information

FAMILY PLANNING ASSOCIATION (f.1930): Some material on artificial insemination, sex determination of unborn children, and sterilisation, c.1930s-70s SA/FPA

GENETIC ALLIANCE UK (f.1989): founded to give a voice to those people affected by genetic conditions; minutes, annual reports, newsletters and other publications, 1989-2010, including issues around advice to families, genetic screening and biotechnological developments SA/GIG

Noel Gordon HARRIS (1897-1963): File of notes, correspondence and draft memorandum on artificial insemination prepared for Mental Health Group of Society of Medical Officers of Health, 1959 PP/NGH

MEDICAL WOMEN'S FEDERATION (f. 1917): Includes material on artificial insemination and assisted reproduction, 1940s-80s SA/MWF

Shirley RATCLIFFE and the Edinburgh MRC Clinical and Population Cytogenetics Unit Study of Long Term Outcomes for Children Born with Sex Chromosome Abnormalities 1967-1995: Some material in this collection refers to the issues of neo-natal diagnosis of SCA and termination decisions by parents PP/SRA

Bernard SANDLER (1907-1997): Material on infertility, AID (Artificial Insemination by Donor), IVF (In-Vitro Fertilisation), surrogacy, sterilisation, 1940s-80s GC/149

Helena WRIGHT (1887-1982): One file on AID (Artificial Insemination by Donor), c. 1950s-60s, and one on third-party adoptions, in which Wright was controversially involved: some papers closed PP/HRW

Voluntary euthanasia

George Stanley BROWNE (1907-1986): Paper by Browne entitled Practical Issues: Euthanasia, healing and the local church, 1975 WTI/SGB

Letitia FAIRFIELD (1885-1978): Some items relating to euthanasia (also AID and other ethically sensitive issues) among papers of Roman Catholic public health doctor, 1920s-70s GC/193

Charles Montague FLETCHER (1911-1995): consulting editor, Journal of Medical Ethics, 1975 - 81; papers include correspondence regarding prolongation of life and the right to die and material from Voluntary Euthanasia Society, 1971-94 PP/CMF

Dr Brian IDDEN, MP (b. 1940): material relating to his involvement with the Care Not Killing Alliance Ltd, an organisation campaigning against assisted suicide and euthanasia and promoting better palliative care, 1997-2010 PP/IDD/D

Frederick PARKES WEBER (1863-1962): Some 'bundles' of correspondence, articles, cuttings and notes among his papers deal with euthanasia, terminal care and the idea of the 'good death', as well as other ethical issues, 1890s-1950s PP/FPW

Rev H C TROWELL (1904-1989): After retirement from medical service in Uganda, ordained into the Anglican priesthood. Papers include various writings on euthanasia, doctor-patient relationships, sanctity of life, 1960s-70s PP/HCT

VOLUNTARY EUTHANASIA SOCIETY (f. 1935): Set up to lobby for the legalisation of voluntary euthanasia for the terminally ill and suffering; records of the society since its foundation, 1930s-90s SA/VES

Fluoridation debates

Carlos Paton BLACKER (1895-1975): One file on fluoridation, 1967 PP/CPB/A.8/11

Herbert Davies Chalke, (1897-1979): Notebook on fluoridation survey, 1961-1, and talk on fluoridation, 1967 GC/200

Sidney CHAVE (1914-1985): Talks and article on fluoridation, 1960s GC/178

PATIENTS’ ASSOCIATION (f. 1963): file on fluoridation, 1964–85 SA/PAT/D/21

SOCIETY OF MEDICAL OFFICERS OF HEALTH (f. 1856): Debates on ethics of, 1950s-80s SA/SMO

Miscellaneous

PATIENTS’ ASSOCIATION: Material relating to a wide range of issues such as patient confidentiality, subject access to medical records, use of patients for teaching purposes, use of patients for experimental medicines and treatments, medical mistakes and medical negligence, clinical judgement, patients rights regarding home births and home visits, patient obligations towards their own health, use of unqualified staff in the health services, ethics of high cost pharmaceuticals and equipment, spending priorities in the NHS, c. 1970s–90s SA/PAT

Charles Montague FLETCHER (1911–1995): files relating to his association with the Institute of Medical Ethics and Society of Medical Ethics, 1980s-90s PP/CMF/F-G

MEDICAL WOMEN'S FEDERATION (f. 1917): Includes files, publications, etc, on assorted matters of ethical concern such as suicide, treatment of sexually-transmitted diseases and attitudes to prostitution and homosexuality, female circumcision, battered babies, adoption, divorce, family law, etc, 1910s-80s SA/MWF

Arthur Sydney Blundell BANKART MA, MCh, FRCS (1879-1951) Orthopaedic Surgeon PP/ABB/E.2/1
Material relating to arguments for and against chiropractic and osteopathy as opposed to orthopaedic surgery, 1925-6

Maurice Henry PAPPWORTH (1910 - 1994): Papers include material on definition of brain death, ethics of transplants, Jewish medical ethics, and patients' consent to medical procedures, 1966-94 PP/MHP

Philip Rainsford EVANS (1910-1990): Evans was a member of the Medical Advisory Panel of the Independent Television Companies Association Ltd: advertising scripts involving medical and health issues were referred to him and he also dealt with complaints about advertisements. Files of correspondence, notes, advertising material, etc, 1960s-80s. Some of Barbara Evans’s medical journalism, 1950s-80s, touches on various ethical issues PP/PRE

James Randal HUTCHINSON (c. 1880-1955) and William Henry BRADLEY (1898-1975): Both of the Ministry of Health. Some material on resistance to compulsory vaccination, 1930s-40s PP/JRH

CANCER RESEARCH CAMPAIGN (f.1923 as the BRITISH EMPIRE CANCER CAMPAIGN, renamed 1970): Files on ethics of accepting donations from football pools companies and other gambling organisations, 1954-67 SA/CRC

Stanley BROWNE: issues surrounding medical care work in Africa, including notes for ‘A Jungle Doctor’s Dilemma’, part of a series of lectures on the Christian approach to medical ethics, 1962, 'Some ethical guidelines to help those undertaking fund-raising publicity for leprosy sufferers' with related correspondence, late 1970s, and other publications by Browne on related issues; sections B and K raise issues of the nature and purpose of medical photography by white doctors in Africa, 1930s-60s WTI/SGB

Charles E DENT (1911-1976): Correspondence about the use of patients for clinical teaching, 1960s PP/CED

Anne DALLY (b. 1926) PP/DAL: Material relating to treatment of drug addiction, and on her difficulties with the General Medical Council, 1960s-90s